Bulging Disc/Slipped Disc/Herniated Disc

What is a Bulging Disc?

A bulging disc is when the spinal disc has uneven pressure exerted on it causing the disc to shift out of it’s normal confines. When the disc comes into contact with the nerve you will experience pain in the back. It is the same as a slipped disc and a herniated disc. The names all mean the same thing. The disc loses it’s cushioning capabilities and puts pressure on the spinal nerve resulting in severe low back pain. The back pain from a herniated disc can run from barely there to debilitating. When a disc ruptures you may require surgery. The ruptured disc may cause life long disability at it’s worse.

What causes a herniated disc?

Trauma to the low back from auto accidents or auto injuries are fairly common ways to acquire a slipped or bulging disc. The sudden forces applied to the lower back cause the disc to shift out of place causing irritation to the large nerves of the lumbar spine. Being overweight is a contributing factor in herniated discs. The weight of the abdomen draws the low back forward with constant tugging on the spinal vertebra. The tension is constant. One wrong move like lifting groceries out of the car or swinging a golf club can cripple even a strong person with a herniated disc. Understand that the disc may already be herniated but one action can trigger the painful event. lack of exercise is a major contributing factor when it comes to dealing with bulging discs in the low back. Poor circulation and weak muscles put you at added risk to develop disc herniation.

How we treat herniated and bulging discs.

When the disc is compressed the fluid is pushed out of the disc. The disc becomes hard and brittle losing it’s functionality as a cushioning agent between the spinal bones. Spinal decompression acts to draw the fluids back into the disc. This re-hydrates the disc and in some cases allowing the disc to plump up and regain it’s purpose. This will help alleviate the pain. Chiropractic care is important to help re position the vertebra. When the spinal bone is in it’s correct location the forces on the disc are more easily handled. The importance of structure and function are crucial to understand why chiropractic care is so important when treating degenerative disc disease. The muscles have to work harder when the spinal bones are out of place. This sets the stage for the herniation in the first place. Chiropractic care can prevent the slipped disc from happening again. You simply must exercise if you want to heal a bulging disc. There is no way you can reasonably expect to have a disc bulge get better and stay better without exercise. Those people who fail to understand that spinal decompression, chiropractic care and exercise are key components in relieving disc pain are doomed to a life time of low back pain from their herniated, slipped or bulging disc.